Line 6 POD/ Peavy 5150 setup tips

Jupiter · #1 10-24-2002, 02:58 AM

Hello all!!!!!!!
The other guitar player in my band is playing a Line 6 POD into a Peavy 5150 combo { 2 X 12 } amp, and we just can't seem to get some really great tones out of the thing when its cranked up... we're playing a mix of heavy prog metal/ Dream Theatre stuff, to give you an idea of what kind of sound we're after. It always sounds too trebly/midrangeish, but when we turn those frequencies down, its too muddy... it's like there's no happy medium or something.
So, if somebody thats had some experience with the POD { ver. 2.0, i think}, or a 5150 combo could offer some advice on how to get a nice, high gain, tight-sounding distortion with a solid bottom end { we play 7 strings} out of this, i'd appreciate it very much!!!
And keep in mind, if we could get a great distortion using just the 5150, that'd be fine, too. It's not like we just HAVE to use the POD or anything. Please offer some great settings, if you have 'em !!!!!!
Thanks a billion,
Ben

anuj · #2 10-24-2002, 04:43 AM

lose the pod .. you don't want or need it if you want a tight cranked sound when you already have a 5150...

~A

kirk · #3 10-24-2002, 07:16 AM

Read the manual. There are a lot of variables when using a POD - cab tybe/spread, the output switch, etc. They recommend using a neutral eq, 0 lows, 0 highs and 5 mids.

Two hands31 · #4 10-24-2002, 07:48 AM

I'd recommend turning off the cabinet simulator and letting the 5150 do all the work there. And set the 5150's EQ to relatively neutral (i.e. all on 5 or something).

MidnightFlamed · #5 10-24-2002, 09:10 AM

Has the other guitarist had his 5150 very long? I'd say ditch the pod and spend some time getting to know the amp. In my opinion, it'll do what you're looking for on it's own. While I don't own a 5150 combo, I do own a 5150 II head, and have found it can sound really incredible for heavy metal chug, and it's bottom end is it's best part, it'll handle a 7 string great. With a pod in front of it.... I think there's just too much going on. I personally wouldn't use a pod in front of a tube rig, but for straight to the boards playing or solid state amps.

I'd suggest starting with a pretty hard scooped eq on the 5150, crank the gain as far without it going buzzy, and experiment from there. I've yet to find an amp that has a more pleasing palm-muted "chunk" to my ear. The sound can get thick though, large chords get real muddy real fast with that kinda gain, but soloing and two-string chords are huge.

I know it's not the same amp, but maybe it helps? Just my opinions and observations.

For dead-on DT tone though, only a Mesa will do it.

pri0531 · #6 10-24-2002, 10:33 AM

My suggestion (after owning a 5150 combo for several years) is to loose the POD and get a BBE Sonic Maximizer for the 5150. It really helps define the sound - BIG TIME.
Out,
GP

Gresh · #7 10-24-2002, 10:38 AM

Like everyone else has said, lose the POD.

If for some reason you can't make the 5150 work out on its own, them use the POD in the effects return only (assuming the 5150 has a loop). Then you would be going straight into the POD from your guitar and would just be using the Power Amp section of the 5150, bypassing the eq and preamp sections.

If you don't have a loop, and you need the POD, then turn off A.I.R and let the cab do its thing...try all the models out, not just the recto models. Back off on the treble a good deal and up the mids to balance the tone at higher volumes.

Jupiter · #8 10-24-2002, 01:10 PM

Thanks for all of the quick responses, guys! You all are awesome!!!!!
The amp is actually our vocalists, and it stays at our drummers house, where we practice. The other guitar player just has a crappity Crate 2 X 10 amp with a POD, so we use the 5150 instead

.
i think we'll try using just the 5150 next time we practice intsead of the POD. Or we may try using the POD running off of the power amp.
Hey Midnightflamed, how much different is a 5150II compared to a 5150? Could i have your settings to try out on it?
Thanks a lot, guys, keep the tips coming!!!!!!
Ben

MidnightFlamed · #9 10-24-2002, 02:21 PM

I haven't played a 5150 in awhile, but from what I remember the biggest difference was that the 5150 II seemed to get a good deal more gain (you know, cause it just needed more) than the original. That and the "clean tone" has a separate eq. I run the head through a Genz Benz 2x12, which I'd say contributes to it's nice bottom-end sound.

I fiddle with the knobs a deal depending on where I'm playing, as it seems that the amp will sound different in different rooms, but just a little knob adjustment goes a long way on the amp. Sometimes tiny turns on the dials will turn something from "crap" to "golden" (and sometimes it seems like a fine line). I generally start with a heavy scoop, bass and treble both around 7, mid around 1. futzing with the mid levels probably changes the character of the gain the most, more mid adds power but I think the gain sounds nicer with more of a scoop. On my amp I usually put the gain at 6.5, which is insane. It's closer to a 5150 on 10 I think. I put it high when I want to get saturated palm-muting, though much higher than that and it starts getting buzzy and unpleasant. With higher gain, the amp sound gets real thick, which I love for single and double string parts, but it muddies up more complex chords pretty bad. With the gain rolled back though, it's still very high gain, but can handle a bit more before getting muddy. Again, the sweep of the gain knob I think is the biggest difference between the amps.

The presence and resonance knobs also can do a lot. I usually adjust resonance to what sounds best through the cab (for the Genz-Benz I usually have it at 3-4). That knob can add a lot of boom. The presence knob is another one that you can fiddle with for a long time and make a lot of change in the sound. The higher the presence, the more cut it adds to the sound. It also, however, can add some obnoxious high tones on the high E and B strings when soloing, so it's another balancing act. Sometimes I run mine around 4-5, other times I put it closer to 8-9.

Hope my babbling helps somehow. I'm always willing to talk about my gear!

Jupiter · #10 10-24-2002, 03:03 PM

Great info, Midnight!
Thanks a lot!
Ben

Two hands31 · #11 10-24-2002, 03:20 PM

Just remembered something, for if you do want to use the POD afterall, just run the POD's output straight into the Effects Loop Return (if there is one) this will get the best sound possible out of the setup. My previous suggestion was incorrect.

big al · #12 10-24-2002, 10:15 PM

Once again, loose the pod, they are more useful as a door stop!
I have a 5150 combo and a 5150 head that I run through a mesa 4x12 cab (30w. vint) along with a cheap BBE 264R and it has chunk for days! I really dislike the 5150 dry but with this $39 investment, it really made a difference and I can get a very close Recto. sound! I guess an eq would also help the 5150.

MidnightFlamed · #13 10-25-2002, 10:17 AM

Man. You guys have got me thinking that I should look into buying a Sonic Maximizer. I guess I should just play one in a store on my amp. How would you guys describe what it does to the sound of a 5150?

pri0531 · #14 10-25-2002, 10:29 AM

The BBE sonic max cleaned up my 5150 (the sine line isn't so peaky/grainy). I also have a 16 band eq and that helped define the sound of 5150 even more.
Out,
GP

big al · #15 10-28-2002, 10:21 PM

I have just finished playing my 5150/mesa cab/bbe-264r and I still cannot believe the sound! I really do not want to like the peavy but I really like this sound. Yes, it does not have the extreme low end chunk of my recto. but the solo sound more than makes up for it. I hesitate to say it but....could this be my sound?!? It could not be this easy...give me a few more days and I'm sure I will change my mind but jeez....I even love it at low volumns.